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FA Cup Preview - Liverpool v Accrington Stanley
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It's the preview show as we build up to Saturday's FA Cup tie at Anfield against League 2 outfit Accrington Stanley!
Daily Liverpool regular Jesse Sarwar and Tom Barnes are joined by Peter Leatham, Chairman of the Official Accrington Stanley Supporters Trust to talk form guides, predicted line ups and milk ahead of this David and Goliath match up.
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Transcript
Introduction & Guest Introduction
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. It's the Friday forecast across GSPN and today we're taking a break from the Premier League as the f FA Cup takes centre stage. Liverpool are the hosts and welcome visitors, Akrington Stanley,
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
In this third round FA Cup tie, it's a Saturday 12.15 kickoff UK time. That's a 7.15 AM m Eastern Standard time for our listeners stateside. Nice early one for you guys. Now joining me on the podcast to talk about this cup tie is Tom Barnes. How are you doing, Tom?
00:00:50
Tom
Yeah, all good chairs mate. it's ah ah It's a bit weird coming onto a podcast and not raving about the the previous wins that we had the couple of days before or the day before. It's a slight reality check for us, but no, I'm all good. Confident again going into the weekend. and yeah should be an interest in the rest of january
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And before I introduce our next guest, I've got to play this, I've got to play this clip.
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm so sorry.
Historical Ties: Liverpool vs Akrington Stanley
00:01:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
You must get this all the time, but it's Liverpool and it's Akriton Stanley. So please forgive us. Delighted to welcome Peter Latham from the Across the Pitch podcast, but so you've also got other roles with the club. Welcome to the Daily Liverpool Pizza. How are you?
00:01:57
Peter Leatham
Yeah, I'm absolutely fine. Thanks very much. Looking forward to weekend and you're right. I didn't think we'd get by without referring to the milk advert. It bills so does. It does wear a bit thin after a while, but I'm sure we'll get plenty of it this weekend. One way or another.
00:02:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I suppose you've got to embrace it really. you know I suppose it it can get annoying for you guys, but it's a part of British TV history now, isn't it?
00:02:16
Peter Leatham
um Absolutely, Absolutely, I'll be honest, at the time, I think Stanley made a few shillings out of it, which made a big difference, obviously, you know at at the bottom end of the the football permit. Our finances are possibly yeah slightly tighter than Anfield, shall we say, and you know a thousand pound here or there makes a big difference to us, really, so it certainly helps in that respect.
Akrington's Historical Significance
00:02:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. yeah All right, let's get things started with this preview of the weekend's FA Cup tie against Stanley. Peter, I'm going to start with you. How big a game is this for you? What does it mean to play Liverpool? It is, by the way, the first competitive meeting between the two.
00:02:56
Peter Leatham
ah ah Yeah, I'll be honest, that you know, obviously it's a big game. It's a big game for us as a club. it's It's a day out for the fans. We actually have quite strong connections to to Liverpool. Accrington FC, one of the founding members of the Football League, won an original 12, actually played its first league game at Anfield, albeit against Everton.
00:03:16
Peter Leatham
know, so that that's that's the the first point. but I think we also then played Liverpool in the FA Cup third round by coincidence back in 55-56 when I think Billy Little scored a couple of goals and Liverpool won 2-0. And we also have strong connections through players and managers and whatever. Our current manager and assistant both live on Merseyside. You know, John Colman, Jimmy Beltugel had some Kirby with the with the club from 1999 onwards.
00:03:44
Peter Leatham
uh, you know, and our legends have owned Acrington. So, uh, you know, we've had a lot of, uh, a lot of interactions with, with Merseyside over the years. That's for sure.
00:03:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the club I think goes back a long time to 1891. I think it was at the original Stanley.
00:03:59
Peter Leatham
Yeah, that was a regional Acrington FC who, uh, you know, it was, we've had continuous sort of football in the tone, apart from 62 when Acrington Stanley famously resigned from the the football league.
00:04:11
Peter Leatham
was reformed in 68 but didn't play its first match competitive match until 1970 and that was literally in the like the Lancashire combination and it gradually worked its way back up since 1972, 2006 when we finally got back in the football league so it's been a It's been a checkered path, it's fair to say. You know, Atkinson is a small, you know, East Lancashire Town sandwich between Blackburn and Burnley. And and what happened when we went out of business in 62, we lost a lot of fans to those two clubs and we lost a generation, effectively. And it's been a battle to get to to get foot back into the warm stadium. You know, average gates now are home fans, probably around 2,000 most weeks, which is disappointing, albeit, you know, the local population is only sort of 35,000, 40,000.
00:04:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so so it's understandable, isn't it? I know it's going to be a great experience for the players and for you as fans to to get to have this tie at Anfield. I mean, mean, I'm ah a bit of a romantic when it comes to the FA Cup and even I would have loved for this game to be at at Stanley's ground. ah would Would you have preferred that or or is it all about the experience at Anfield now?
Financial Aspects of Playing at Anfield
00:05:22
Peter Leatham
I think it depends which hat you put on, you know, would Stanley have a better chance of playing at home possibly, albeit it's probably only 2 out of 100, rather than 1 out of 100? But, you know, putting the ah the the other hats on financially, playing at Anfield in front of 50,000 or 60,000, you know, that's where we get the biggest bank of our book, effectively. And, you know, as I said before, you know, the finances are always tight and this is a good slice of what we call football fortune. You know, we know every year what we get from the EFL, we know what comes down from the TV, Munners, etc. So our budget set accordingly. And our playing budget typically is
00:05:59
Peter Leatham
So the £1.6, £1.7 million pound a year. So if you do the maths on that, it's not an awful lot across a squad of 20, 24 players. So you to suddenly get an influx of unbudgeted revenue makes a big difference to us, really. And that's what it's all about in League 2, unfortunately.
00:06:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I mean, it does tell you where football is at the moment that, you know, the big clubs, and obviously i I include Liverpool in that kind of look at the domestic cup competitions is almost like a distraction, uh, where you can, you know, bloody young players and, you know, all, all the attention is on the premier league and the, and the champions league.
00:06:28
Peter Leatham
you Yeah.
00:06:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the smaller clubs, you know, very, it's a a lifeline in many instances.
00:06:42
Peter Leatham
Absolutely is. Absolutely is. And we can't emphasise
Financial Struggles in UK Football: Impact on Small Clubs
00:06:47
Peter Leatham
it enough really. you know the and We know that the football's broken financially in the UK. We've got you know the big six clubs basically ruling the ruling the roost. and you know the the FA and to extend the EFL, you know, a sort of dereliction of duty, I think, really, in terms of protecting our football pyramid. And in reality, you know, would the six survive without the pyramid beneath it is debatable, because I think people would wear a bit thin. The big six playing each other week in week out or even playing European size week in week out, you know, the strength of the bitches game is the yeah
00:07:21
Peter Leatham
you know, as a pyramid even even beneath the FLV, with the National League and so on, and we're going to do all we can to to protect that and and keep it as healthy as possible.
00:07:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, ownership is such a huge issue in in football now, especially with, you know, the Premier League, it's so awash with money, and it's attracted, you know, investment from all parts of the world. You know, you've got owners, you know, from the Middle East, you've got owners in America, you've got state backed owners, which you know, for me, you know, is is just a red line, I'm just dead against state ownership, full stop, I don't care who it is, where the state is from, what kind of state it is, I just think the principle of having a state owning a football club, I just think it's just wrong on on so many levels.
00:07:58
Peter Leatham
yeah
00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you know, you you guys seem to be in a pretty competitive division, you've got like Salford, I think Walsall are flying high. Salford have got a very very famous owners, Expansions United players.
00:08:21
Peter Leatham
Yeah.
00:08:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you've got the Rexxon story, you know, with their owners. What's the fan view on your ownership? Am I right in thinking that that that that you're looking for new owners?
00:08:32
Peter Leatham
Yes, I know. Acrington was bought by a local businessman called Andy Holt in 2015-16. In reality, had he not stepped in then, I doubt we would have had an Acrington Stanley now, because you know it was literally hand to mouth, year in, year out.
00:08:50
Peter Leatham
Andy bought it, not as a vanity project particularly, but as a community venture. You know, he's very much community-based and he basically thought if he didn't do it, nobody else was going to do it and we'd end up losing our football club. So Andy is, you know, p he's a very successful local businessman and he invested some of his his personal, personal wealth back into the club. You know, we spent a lot of money actually improving the basic facilities of the club. I think back to 2015, 2016, we played Fulham in the FA Cup, third round at home in, I forget the year, probably about 2013. Roy Hodgson famously wouldn't allow Fulham to get changed in the changing rooms. They actually got changed in the hotel and came up to the ground on the courts, ready to change, because he didn't think it would fit to purpose. And in reality, he was probably right. We've got you know showers that may or may not work. you know We once played,
00:09:45
Peter Leatham
AFC Wimbledon in a televised lead two playoff, and halfway through the extra time period, one of the players was substituted, went and turned on the show, and the floodlights went off.
00:09:57
Peter Leatham
And that that that's the state it was in, you know, running water, toilets, forget it. So Andy came and basically built a ah ah stand on one side which was which was needed. It's only, I think it's about eight rows deep, so it's nothing major at all, but it it makes a big difference. We reconfigured the main stand.
00:10:18
Peter Leatham
We re-led all the pitch and levelled it because at one time it
Infrastructure Improvements at Akrington
00:10:21
Peter Leatham
it flooded most weeks down to one corner and the contractors that came and did that came to do the one stadium having just finished doing Paris Saint-Germain.
00:10:31
Peter Leatham
So that tells you, you know, we're not cutting corners. If we're doing it, we're doing it properly.
00:10:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:35
Peter Leatham
It's now a hybrid pitch with the with the plastic
00:10:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well.
00:10:40
Peter Leatham
sort of infill that the grass roots could sort of grow out of so you know with a pitch now that actually drains too well it doesn't hold water so if it rains you know we're typically still putting sprinkles on at 10 to 3 when it's been a deluge to to to keep moisture in the pitch it's it's that sort of situation. We've also now got new bars and and hospitality which are the envy of most clubs. We as the supporters trust actually have a little table inside the bar area pre-match, and we have fans from the likes of Sunderland, Derby, Leeds, Bolton, Lotherham coming to Stanley and saying, gosh, I wish a week wish we had something like this. It's absolutely a sports bar. We let all the away fans into it. It's a great atmosphere. You know, 15 or 16 big screens, come and watch the game, have a drink. And it's all about us making away fans welcome, because we want them to come but want to come back. We want them to spend money while they're there, because that does make a big difference to us.
00:11:36
Peter Leatham
and you know we've got to make people welcome and enjoy the experience at the one sturdium.
00:11:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what's the what's the hope in terms of ownership then? know it's
00:11:46
Peter Leatham
Andy, sorry I didn't answer your question, Andy, you know any club is up for sale there's somebody comes with the right money you know if someone will sell Liverpool you know is it still Fenwick, fe it fenwickcker at your own it?
00:11:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah but efficiently yeah yeah
00:11:57
Peter Leatham
Yeah, you know, so if somebody comes with the right money, whether it be Elon Musk and his mates, I don't know. But if they come with the right money, it will get sold. You know, same with United, as we've seen. And it will be the same with Atkinson. But, so you know, our list of potential owners is probably considerably shorter than Liverpool's, I would suggest. And and that's the problem, because you're never going to make any money. It's just a question of of propping something up, really. And we've seen many cases where local businessmen have got involved.
00:12:24
Peter Leatham
They've been invested with a view to the club getting promoted. It's not happened. And they've either lost a fortune or walked away. the club's in a perilous state then. So we're on a fairly firm footing. You know, Vandy does let it go. It will go to the right owners for the right reason. It won't go to someone who's going to give it a couple of years. If we don't go up, he's going to walk away and leave us stranded. But all the facilities is bought, basically make the club sustainable. You know, we can't afford to survive on 23 match days a year.
00:12:53
Peter Leatham
You know, we have conferences in there, we have, you know, music groups on most weeks. There's a lot happens around the club on non-match days and that brings up, but obviously brings in income, which is um vital to the survival of the football club.
00:13:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And in terms of like your fortunes on the pitch, am I right in saying I think you're 19th in the league at the moment.
00:13:10
Peter Leatham
Hmm.
00:13:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just above Tranmere Rovers.
00:13:18
Peter Leatham
Yeah, I think I might have gone up one, but with earlier about that's for sure. A couple couple of games in hand on clubs around us. and
00:13:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Jamie Rovers recently turned down the chance to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold, it seems. but sir and But how's the season going so far, you know, in terms of, let's say, where your expectations were before the season started and how you're doing now?
00:13:43
Peter Leatham
I think, bear in mind that we changed our managers in, I think it was February of last year, obviously John Coleman, Jimmy Bell left after the best part of 20 seasons at Stanley, which came as a shock to many. I think, you know, probably, it's pop you can argue the time was right, you know, possibly that course had been run, I'm not sure.
00:14:04
Peter Leatham
John Doolan took over who was the first team coach when the club got promoted in 2018-19. John has worked in the academy at Everton, was assistant to Alan Stubbs up at Hibernian. So he has a pedigree, nor is the club and it was a logical appointment I think to many.
00:14:22
Peter Leatham
But John obviously inherited the squad he inherited with a number of high earners who weren't actually on the pitch an awful a lot last season due to injury. So, you know, Barry Mann had a limited budget. When your high earners aren't playing, it it impacts quite greatly on the performances. So, a number of those were let go at the end of end of last season. So, we basically had to you know, build a sort of half a squad, I suppose, really, we had half of last year plus plus new ones coming in. So this is John Doolan's first squad that he's a chance to mould. He brought back Jed Brannon, who's probably another name familiar on Moses, had played a lot of cham here and I think Man City and various other clubs.
00:14:59
Peter Leatham
Jed was manager at Morecambe last season. He was previous to the under-23 manager at Stanley. Went to Morecambe halfway through last season and has now come back as a assistant to two, John. They're great fans anyway, so it's quite a strong ah ah strong partnership. the season started quite poorly. I think first 10 games, I don't think we won, know including cup competitions, with a number of lone players coming in that had to settle. And yeah and obviously, it takes time for a squad to bed in.
00:15:28
Peter Leatham
Since then we've had some some some some better results. excuse me kill the phone um so you know Things moved on and and i think I think we'll do okay. We've started to play some some better football. We've had some decent results. We went to one at Chesterfield, one at Gillingham.
00:15:46
Peter Leatham
one at Colchester at weekend, beat Grimsby the weekend before. So things are beginning to come round now and settle down. Unfortunately, and one of our four was Dara Costello on loan from Burnley's out injured heel mister game on on Saturday. So we've been short of a centre forward, if that's fair, although a guy called Tyler Walton, who was at Southport last year of all places, has been playing up top by himself and making a decent fist of it. So, you know, it's been mixed, but I think we'll be okay. I think things will continue to improve for Stanley as we go through the season.
00:16:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think those last wins that you had, 3-2 against Grimsby and then 2-0 against Colchester because those those are kind of teams in and around you as well.
00:16:19
Peter Leatham
Yeah.
00:16:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, ah you know, they they were they were big wins for you.
00:16:25
Peter Leatham
Yeah.
00:16:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's something for you guys to take into for the weekend's game. We're going to go to a very short break and then we'll come back and continue this preview for the FA Cup.
00:17:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, welcome back to this FA Cup preview. Tom, Liverpool, you know, we're still in all competition, so busy fixture schedule. We've just played Spurs midweek in that League Cup game. Huge game coming up against Forrest next Tuesday in the Premier League. Where does this game sit for Arnie's slot in terms of priorities?
Liverpool's FA Cup Strategy
00:17:35
Tom
a I think it's obviously going to be a game you want to win. I think there's no question about that. And I think if you want to win the FA Cup, the first round you're playing is just as important as the final. You've got to win every game to get your hands on the trophy. But in terms of, you know, mixing the squad around, this won't be the game that you prioritise is putting out its big gun. So I expect a lot of changes. OK, yeah, you look at yeah Forest on ah on on Tuesday, given the full merit and the last couple of results we had, you could argue that's a bigger result, but at the same time, like I said, if you if you want to have your hands on trophy handson trophy, every game's as big as the other. So it's a big game, of course. Honest lot will go into it wanting to win it with the aim of going all the way in there, winning as many trophies as you can. and
00:18:21
Tom
We look at how we've done so far, there's no reason why we can't go the distance in there and do it. And you say the same about every competition we're in. So no, it's a big game. OK. People look at it and think, OK, I can stand at home. it's It's a bigger occasion for them rather than us. But I think it's in so that mentality.
00:18:39
Tom
on his little train zap out of his place. It doesn't matter who's on that pitch. It's a big of a game for anyone. and So yeah, no, I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure the players are looking forward to it. It'd be interesting to see what's what squad he goes with. No doubt he's going to make changes, but yeah, like I said, every game is big in a cup competition, if you want to go all the way.
00:18:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I was surprised how strong he picked that team midweek against Spurs. I really thought that he'd rest and rotate more players. But I suppose there's a balancing act. You've got a player as a manager. you know You want your players to get that rest, not to be overworked, but then you don't want them to have too much time off because they lose that rhythm and match sharpness. But I'm wondering about the form we're in at the moment.
00:19:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everyone's been saying Liverpool haven't had a blip yet, and it's going to be interesting to see how they react when we do have a blip. But we you know we suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spurs midweek, Carabao Cup, 2-2 draw against a poor United team that felt like a defeat. We've conceded goals. We had a 2-2 draw against Fulham, 3-3 against Newcastle. I mentioned this in the pod yesterday.
Liverpool's Recent Form: Dip or Blip?
00:19:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's an argument to say that we're going through that blip now.
00:19:54
Tom
Yeah, exactly. And I think the biggest compliment you can give to Liverpool and our only slot is, if this is our blitz, then we're not losing. Okay, we lost one, I'll disperse, but it's only halfway in the tie. And I think we said before we were on air that I think we're all confident in turning that around when they come to Anfield. But yeah, I mean, lucky in the United game, okay, going into it quite a lot was probably me included, god got a bit too confident thinking, na okay, this is should be a walk in the park. And I think on the opposite end of the spectrum United were thinking the words going into the game. I think we didn't learn a lesson from last year as well when they drew Nell Nell with us that that they can't turn up. that It's one of those features where form more than more than ever goes out the window.
00:20:39
Tom
and Well, yeah, no, I mean, if this is our bloke, we're not playing well. Okay. The last month or so hasn't been as good as the the first few months of the season, but in the day we're drawing some money and out of that home. If you look at that position, you'd think it's an easy game and it actually is historically. It's never easy playing against Manchester United before one of them fixtures that no matter where where you are on the table, players are going to turn up, players are one'm going to do a number on you. Newcastle away. Look at the form there in, um, three in hard time, doesn't look like a bad result. And,
00:21:09
Tom
I think the beauty of it is we're going through a this split, but teams aren't really closing the gap on us. I think we went into that game.
00:21:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, you've had other teams kind of not capitalising like Arsenal or Chelsea.
00:21:18
Tom
Exactly. Yeah.
00:21:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
they've They've been dropping points as well. But, you know, we are conceding goals. Peter, you know, bearing in mind that Liverpool are expected to make a lot of changes. You know, we're, you know, we've we've played midweek and then we've got this big Premier League game on Tuesday night against Forest who had an amazing season and and they are right in the thick of it.
00:21:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
as far as I'm concerned. So you would expect a slot to pick, you know, maybe some younger players, some academy players. What's Akritan's style of play? Tell us maybe some of the players that you're pinning your hopes on to maybe exploit some experience in that live inexpeenceing that Liverpool team.
00:22:01
Peter Leatham
Yeah, Stanley liked to play football where
Akrington's Playing Style & Key Players
00:22:04
Peter Leatham
they can. They certainly liked to get the ball down. In fact, we had a couple of sort of bad home defeats in December prior to Christmas against Sullivan and Bonley, where basically the weather just made a total lot of skill force wins, if you probably remember. And you know we we just that they just the conditions better than we did. But generally, they liked to get the ball down. They'll start with a back three and play with wing bikes.
00:22:28
Peter Leatham
sort of in terms of threats going forward you've got to look at sean wallley who was at anfield not long ago with uh with shrewsbury i remember sean playing for stanley in 2006 he played for stanley before he went on his travels and he returned a couple of seasons ago about 400 games down the line and at 37 he's probably as fit as the uh the 1890s running around he's somebody who's uh He was really looked after himself and made certainly all the best of the ah the the abilities he's got. And seaun Sean's, you know, I would tell this man at the moment, he's he's playing very well.
00:23:02
Peter Leatham
As I say, we've got Tyler Walton up front who has come through normal league. A guy called Kelsey Mooney, who with a guy called Jimmy Knowles, scored 40-yard goals, albeit for Boston United and National League North last season, but they are now both at Stanley and have scored in League Two, not been as politically as dude they would probably hope, but unfortunately have both been out with injuries recently, albeit Kelsey got back on the pitch in the last week or two, so they expect him to play some parts.
00:23:30
Peter Leatham
We've then got Josh Woods, who you famously publicly saw on social media when the draw was made, who was leaping around his living room, who came from non-league football in Liverpool. He he really is a a sort of fairy tale story as Josh.
00:23:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brilliant story, isn't it?
00:23:43
Peter Leatham
Yeah, young, enthusiastic, you know, obviously a read through and through as as some of our other players are, to be honest. But he'll be relishing every moment of the day. We've also got Liam Coyle in Centre Midfield, who I think came through the Academy at Anfield.
00:23:57
Peter Leatham
and then sort of fell out and and found his way back into league football at Aquentine, which is sort of the the platform we try and provide to players really is is to come back in. We have a couple of good loanees with ah ah a six foot four centre back from Southampton called Zach or AWE, who's played very well this season, and a centre back from United called Sonny Al Joffrey, who You know, it's been quite impressive for us this season and both those two are really playing men's football for the first time. So, you know, they come through the academy and ah and we find that the academy players who come to play in League Two will learn more in six months playing League Two football than they've learnt in a long time playing academy football. All of a sudden things matter.
00:24:43
Peter Leatham
you know It doesn't matter about keeping possession, it's about not conceding goals and scoring goals and making sure that you get three points. And that's the yeah you know a steep learning curve for these guys who are quite happy to be governed by statistics and and keeping the ball all day, but nothing ever happens.
00:25:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, if you know, if a player, a young player is going to grow up, he's going to, he's going to grow up pretty fast in ah in some of the lower divisions.
00:25:08
Peter Leatham
Right.
00:25:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, we're going to go on a very short break again, and then we'll come back and do some more predicted lineups.
00:25:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, welcome back. Let's get into some predicted lineups. Peter, i but I suppose Stanley are going to put out their best team. I can't see anyone wanting to miss out on this game.
00:26:08
Peter Leatham
No, I can't either. I think you'll very much start with the with the starting 11. We probably started last week done at Colchester. you know I'll be surprised if there's many changes.
00:26:19
Peter Leatham
As I said, the bench a little puddling on loan from Blackburn called Jake Batty, a left back. He's quite unique in the Aquinton side, because he's left back with a left foot, which is the first one we've had since about 29, I think, from memory. So, you know, he's been with his weight in Gilbert, unfortunately. He's been out since I think about the middle of October, but he's just finding his way back, so I'll probably expect him you know possibly to be on the bench, although he he may possibly start, I'm not sure.
00:26:48
Peter Leatham
The other one that may come back into contention is a young full-back called Conor O'Brien who's an Ireland under 21 international who's just been suspended for three games but typically has been starting at right back but obviously we've missed him for the last three games.
00:26:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
sir.
00:27:01
Peter Leatham
Now whether he gets back in I'm not sure but I'd be very surprised if there's many changes other than other than those to be honest really.
00:27:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tom, in terms of Liverpool, was surprised to see Alison in goal on Wednesday night. I really thought that Kelleher had got the kind of domestic cups, if you like, and and Alison will be left with the Champions League and the Premier League. but It just goes to show how seriously Slott took that game. know We're getting into the business end of that competition and he puts in his big guns. But you you'd think Keleher has got ah he's got to he's got to be be playing on on Saturday.
00:27:41
Tom
Yeah, 100%. I think that squad we put out against Spurs has given a lot of and indications of how we're going to line up against Atherington on Saturday with the first one obviously being in the Atherington. I can't say anything other than Kelleher being in goal. and I know I think we've been we've been used to a young club over the years saying that Alison is Premier League and Champions League keeper in the domestic cup to pick Oliver only. Well, obviously, Arnie's lot keeps coming out, especially during allison's injuries and keep satating that he is is number one
00:28:13
Tom
and him so seriously, games like that, with the magnitude, it's okay, it's two legs. and He's always going to go with Alison when he's fit. And I suppose you can't really compare them to an outfield player. The physical demands isn't as great. You know, they're not running around the pitch for 90 minutes. So I can see why he went with Alison, but yeah, I think it also does suggest quite clearly that Kelleher well-being goal and I don't expect anything else.
00:28:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And in terms of the back four, Van Dyke needs a rest, right? he's He's playing literally every single game.
00:28:46
Tom
Yeah.
00:28:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gomez is out. I'm not sure about Kwanzaa. I don't think he was injured. I think it was more the aftereffects of some illness.
00:28:53
Tom
illnesss Yeah, I think obviously they're going to, if it is elements with Quonsalite slots, they're going to obviously monitor them over the next couple of games.
00:28:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So would you would you expect Kwanzaa in that starting lineup at Canate or Endo?
00:29:13
Tom
I think whatever line up they've slot puts out, he is going to have one eye on the forest game on Tuesday because that's the biggest game of the month in reality. So yeah, he's going to have one eye on that. And obviously, like I said, my dad will get a rest and I'm 99% sure that that will happen. But yeah, I just think if we're against Spurs as well. I don't think he looked quite right since his injury. I think we've been blessed to see him at his best so far this season when he's been fit. still looking at And he just didn't look quite right. So I think, again, one eye on for us to want to ideally play Quans about. Obviously, it all comes down to injury. But it raises the question whether that Amara Nello, who was on the venture against Southampton, I think we all expected him to feature in that game. Maybe it's a game for he'll be the youngster to be handed his debut. I can certainly see one youngster being given the
00:30:05
Tom
first team debut. I mean, I tend to watch the academy football on Saturday morning when they're on LSE TV and he is someone that stands out like a sore thumb, he's mature and it'd be nice to see how he gets on in the in the first team. So I'd like to see him and I think if Quonser's fitting off that, I think in an ideal world slot would like to go with Quonser and potentially next to Mellow would give I think he'd have been issuing in the starting line up on Saturday if he was fit.
00:30:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:30:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
What about the fallbacks?
00:30:38
Tom
I think I'd be the two.
00:30:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because Simakas looked pretty bad knock on Wednesday night.
00:30:42
Tom
Yeah.
00:30:44
Tom
Yeah.
00:30:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And you'd want probably those two fit for Tuesday.
00:30:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you know, does that does that mean getting someone out of the academy or putting Robertson in?
00:30:54
Tom
Yeah, again, I think it was James Norris as well. He's been training with the first team yet to be handed his debut, I believe. So he could be another one. I think the defence is a bit of a funny one at the moment.
00:31:08
Tom
Gomez is such an awkward player. How about injured? Because he can play all across that back line.
00:31:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:12
Tom
and
00:31:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:31:12
Tom
and But yeah, again, it's like a broken record, but he's going to have one eye on Forest, so I think potentially what I keep Robertson and Trent fresh, that people may disagree with that, but it is one of them games where you need your know-how players to be fit and firing. So I can see him go with the same the same two full backs it started against Spurs, and it would be in Simicast if he is fit enough to play. I can't see whichever left-back he plays,
00:31:40
Tom
I can't seem to play in a full game. I think there will be rotation there. I think Connor Bradley will be the right back.
00:31:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
right back. What about in midfield then? You've got the likes of Endo, I'd say Curtis Jones, maybe Tyler Morton, Harvey Elliott, you've got to give Graven Burke and McAllister a rest now.
00:31:59
Tom
Yeah, yeah, I'd like to see them do rest because I think they were two of the players that I was most surprised to see start against Spurs because
00:32:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:07
Tom
I just keep fearing that I'm in Graham and Burch. He's not been blessed with a great injury record over the years. it's Not awful, for but I just think Christ, the minutes that he is playing, I just keep thinking it's only a matter of time until we do get an injury.
00:32:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
out of time. Yeah.
00:32:21
Tom
Because we have been not fortunate, but relatively fortunate compared to some of the teams around us in terms of injuries and I think, is it a matter of time until one comes? So I think in my selfish mind, I'm just keep thinking give one of them a rest, give one of them a rest.
00:32:35
Tom
Well, yeah, I think this will be the game you will do. I think Tyler Morton would have got a game, but I think he was rolled out like and against Spurs for through an ankle injury, I believe.
00:32:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:32:45
Tom
Obviously, Subos Live was ill. Maybe this is a game for him to get some minutes ahead of and a Tuesday's game against Boris.
00:32:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
foreign
00:32:54
Tom
For me, I can see a midfield three of Subos Live, if he's all well after his illness. and It sounds like it will be because I think Ursula was quite optimistic that he was going to be in the squad for the top end game, I think end 0 100% and I can see, given he got no minutes against Spurs at Harvey Elliott, he'll be in that midfield for you as well.
00:33:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
the
00:33:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then that front three, you know we we are blessed with options.
Liverpool's Potential FA Cup Lineup
00:33:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kiesa, I really want him to to step up now. And this looks like the ideal game.
00:33:24
Tom
Yeah.
00:33:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And might maybe Peter will be happy that maybe Salah doesn't play. But to but so what do you think, Tom?
00:33:32
Peter Leatham
And the fuel isn't possible.
00:33:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is Kiesa going to get his run out?
00:33:41
Tom
He's got to, surely.
00:33:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because I'm thinking Kiesa, Tota, and Nunez.
00:33:44
Tom
That's it, yeah, the exact same three three for me as well. and Yeah, Keyes has got to Nunez, I think that'll be the the front through the Starsky, Sappington and the three that we haven't mentioned, Gappo, Diaz and Sattler, that'll be the three that start against Morris.
00:33:58
Tom
Yeah, that'll be the midfield three for me. Again, the photographer talking yoster i'd love to see that under moer come on feature and feature. We've been on the bench a couple of times in a couple of the cup competitions so far. and but Yeah, I think we say all this about rotation, but at the end of the day, we've got a game to win and we can't rotate too much. We can't can't take teams lightly if you want to win it. And you've got to have people out there that you know can put the ball in the back of the net. So I think that team is a nice balance of rotation plus strength as well to pay after the respect and hopefully get the get the job done.
00:34:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Peter, what are you looking for in this in this game? any kind of Any kind of score predictions or any hopes that you can pull off a you know an upset and maybe or or get a replay?
00:34:40
Peter Leatham
fact
00:34:46
Peter Leatham
Yeah, it's ah ah it's a head versus heart, this one,
Akrington's Hopes Against Liverpool
00:34:49
Peter Leatham
isn't it, really? You know, in reality, you'd expect Liverpool to win this game. I would hope Stanley, you know, play to their abilities, enjoy the day, don't get embarrassed. I'm sure they'll give the ball, you know, we're seeing that it's well known and they'll leave nothing they'll leave nothing behind, that's for sure, with other players, you know, they'll give 100% for John Doolan.
00:35:12
Peter Leatham
fans will have a good day out, they will enjoy it. There's no expectation, you're from Stanley's perspective, it's a free hit. you know let Let's be honest, you know no one no one expects them to win. If they do happen to do something, then you know but but the biggest ah ah you know the biggest surprise in the club's history, I would have thought, but it's ah it's a very, very slim chance and in reality. But and know we go we're go looking forward to a good day out.
00:35:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. I think we're all looking forward to it and luck ah ah on your travels, Peter, to the game.
00:35:41
Peter Leatham
Thank you.
00:35:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I hope you enjoy the game. Obviously not too much, but but good luck nonetheless. That's all for today. Give us a follow on your preferred podcast platform so that you get the very latest content when it drops.
00:35:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Follow us on social media at GSPN Liverpool. You can email us at gspndailyliberport.com. Join us again on Monday when we'll be reviewing so Saturday's FA Cup third round game against Stanley. Well, thanks to Peter for joining us. Good luck for the rest of the season, Peter. I'm off for a glass of milk. Pete needs to get that thought because it sounds quite important. Until next time, thank you for listening.
00:36:29
Peter Leatham
Good job.